U.S. creates passport catastrophe

Posted by Bridget Lux Jun 18, 2007

It seems like it should have been fairly straightforward: Require every American international traveler to have a passport. The U.S. Congress, however, had to complicate things by rolling out the requirements in two phases ... and trying to rush implementation of the requirements. The results: Mass confusion. In an attempt to shed some light on what's happened, I thought I'd tackle it from a traveler's point of view:

1. If you have a passport and it s expiration date is more than six months away, you're in good shape. If your passport will expire in six months or less, apply for a new one. Now.

2. If you have a trip to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada or Mexico and are planning to fly, you must have proof that you have applied for your passport, along with a government-issued photo ID. And if you're flying to Mexico, bring your birth certificate.

3. If you're flying to any place other than the four destinations mentioned above and have applied for a passport, but have not yet received it, you're SOL. That's right. You're caught in the government's SNAFU. If you planned to go to France and applied for your passport three months ago or less, but have not yet received it you probably won't be allowed to board the plane.

That's the real problem with all the patches and temporary fixes the government is attempting: They have caused far reaching issues that can't be fixed with a simple delay of the WHTI. And while Congress is voting to delay phase II of the WHTI, which will require all travelers traveling by land or sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda to have a passport, the Department of Homeland Security wants to keep its implementation date. Ridiculous. Imagine the millions of people who cross the Canadian border alone who will need a passport.

Bottom line: If you do not have a passport, apply for one now even if you have no travel plans. If your passport expires in the next six months, apply for a new one now.